My current journey to health, happiness, and a better version of myself

My journey to weight loss began so long ago. Read that part of the journey here: link to the story of my weight, insecurities, & body image issues coming soon
Now at 38, I am so ready to make changes not just temporary, not a quick fix. I want to live healthier so that I can live my life fully and be all that I was created to be.
You may be thinking why am I doing this? (I can’t believe I am going to add pictures and share my weaknesses & vulnerabilities) I just want to be real with you, I said from the beginning that I wanted this blog to be a space where I could show up and be myself. A place where I could be free to be myself. That by sharing my struggles, sharing that I’m not perfect, sharing my fears, doubts, insecurities, my story… it may inspire someone else in some sort of way, maybe my story can make a difference in someone else’s life.
It will also hold me accountable for the goals I want to achieve for myself.
I am so sick of the yo-yo diets, the number on the scale controlling my life.
I am going to share my numbers just to track progress, to show you that it is possible. It’s not about the numbers for me totally, I want just want to be healthy and fit. I want to be fully happy and accept myself for me not a number, not a size, not a shape. I am working on myself from the inside out. Not only am I working out at home and eating clean/healthy. I am also working on my personal growth, personal development. Dealing with my body image issues, insecurities, why I’ve yo-yo dieted, used food for comfort, etc. (More on all of this in another post)
Current Weight Loss Journey
This Summer I fell off the health & wellness wagon & gained 8 pounds over the Summer months! What? how did this happen? Oh yeah, too much beer, cocktails, bread, chips, snacks, party food, junk food this Summer. I let myself not be in control. I let myself over-induldge.
This Summer has gotten away from me with making bad choices on eating & drinking. Vacations, parties, picnics, poolside, it’s hard to not give in, it’s hard changing old habits, it’s hard when everyone around you is doing it too!
It would have been okay if I had done it in moderation, but no I went overboard! Too many times, too many days.
I was never 100% healthy eater anyway. More like 80/20 clean eating. Most of the time through the week I made healthy choices, exercised, and stuck to a plan, but on the weekend I may indulge in drinks or a slice of pizza, a slice of cake. I was careful and in moderation would enjoy life and all the delicious food.
But over the Summer it had been like 50/50 and the scale shows plus my gut and thighs!
I know I will never be 100% perfect at a healthy lifestyle but I damn well know I can do a hell of a lot better than I was doing.
I thought I was doing ok by telling myself that I was still exercising and most days of the week I was making good choices. But when there are too many days in a week that you aren’t doing what you should do then the result is 8 pounds!!

But I decided to forgive myself and re-start. Pick myself back up and move on… I am not going to dwell on what I did wrong. I know what I did. I am not going to beat myself up for it, that won’t resolve anything.
It was fun and I enjoyed it, but enough is enough!!! Yes, I’m paying for it now, but every moment shared with friends & family I enjoyed. But I do want to figure this all out so that it quits happening.
So this is my re-start and am sharing with you to help hold myself accountable. Because I need it so much!! I’ve also found help, support, accountability in a challenge group, this was a game changer for me, in the past I would give up or do my workouts and not stick to my nutrition/meal planning. Read more about challenge groups here
But hopefully to also encourage you that if you fall down, get back up. If you have a cheat day its ok just keep trying, don’t feel guilty. Forgive yourself and move on. Because feeling guilty will just hold you back and keep you down, you will wallow in your own self-pity feel worse, go to food for comfort, and begins the downward spiral.
We have so much life to live, we have got to do this for us! We need to take care of ourselves. We only get one shot at this life, one body to carry us through life. And we can make it everything we want it to be. We can get out there, see, do, and be all that we want. Or we can be tired, miserable, overweight, constantly hard on ourselves, when it’s really simple, make a choose and do something about it.
It only takes one step. Just a little step and that step will lead to another and another. I am sharing my journey to a healthier lifestyle for both of us!
One thing I’ve learned in all my years of dieting, trying to lose weight, it not just about the food and getting active, it’s also about our mindset.
Do we believe we deserve to be happy?
Do you believe it’s possible to lose weight? Read more about this coming soon….
So this is my current journey to a healthier, happier, more fit lifestyle!!
I started Beachbody’s Chalene Extreme the beginning of October 2016.
Coming Soon Chalene Extreme Review

The beginning of my current journey of health & weight loss! When I’ve said enough is enough and I am finally down with not feeling good in my own skin, I am done yo-yo dieting, I am getting off of this diet roller coaster once and for all!!

Before –

My bottom half ~ butt & thighs is my biggest problem area and it is the first place I gain & the last place I lose!

10/1/16

Starting Weight: 169

Measurements:

Left Arm 11 Right Arm 11.5

Left Calf 14.5 Right Calf 15

Left Thigh 24 Right Thigh 24

Butt 41

Waist 31

Stomach (around belly button) 36.5

Boobs 36.5

After ~ 30 Day Transformation

11/1/16 ~ 30 Day Transformation doing Beachbody’s Chalene Extreme

Weight: 163

Measurements:

Left Arm 11 Right Arm 11.5

Left Calf 14 Right Calf 14.5

Left Thigh 21.5 Right Thigh 21.5

Butt 41

Waist 30

Stomach (around belly button) 35.5

Boobs 36

Total Loss: – 6 pounds & 8.5″ overall

The most noticeable differences to me:

my thighs & legs

my butt, although the measurements are showing a difference, it is more toned. I never thought I would be able to transform my behind!! LOL but it is!!

my stomach/waist, I don’t look as bloated or have a muffin top over my jeans when I sit down.

Comparison – me before starting and 30 days after

3 Month Results

January 7, 2017 ~ Total of 90 Days ~ After one round of Chalene Extreme & 2 Rounds of Core de Force

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About the Girl

I'm a simple girl with big dreams & loads of passion! I'm the kind of girl who likes dresses or sweats, champagne or beer, glitter/diamonds or getting dirty, camping or exotic resorts, adventure or staying home!!
I started this blog as a creative outlet, an escape from my day job & normal routine, an online scrapbook to always have to look back on, something to call my own and a hobby to fill the emptiness that’s growing from my girls growing up and graduating soon.Read More…